CD-Charts Position 1
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The Shape of Jazz to Come: Remastered

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 17, 2001
This is the ideal place to start for anyone interested in Coleman and a recording to rank along Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme. Coleman's departure ("abandonment" is too prejudicial a word) from the chord-based blues and jazz tradition gave him a reputation for difficulty before his forays into free jazz but, as I once read, the startling thing about "The Shape of Jazz to Come" is how melodic and rhythmic is it. "Lonely Woman", stately, mournful and passionate, is one of the finest openings to an album ever but the quality does not abate. The interplay between Coleman and Don Cherry on cornet is spellbinding and the Haden-Higgins bass and drums section is integral in propelling the music with a frequent spring and swing (witness Haden's bassline, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Croydon Concert 1965

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 15, 2008
Ornette Coleman's UK debut at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon on 29th August, 1965 was one of the most memorable jazz concerts I've ever attended and it's wonderful that this is available on CD at long last.
The legendary concert began unpromisingly with Ornette's hastily written chamber work, 'Forms and Sounds for Wind Quintet', played by the bemused members of the Virtuoso Ensemble. Although interesting, it has little to do with jazz and I suspect that most admirers of Ornette's music won't play this piece very often. The real action starts with the Trio, featuring Ornette playing his white plastic alto, David Izenzon(bass) and Charles Moffett(drums). They opened dramatically with the utterly eery 'Sadness' with Izenzon's virtuoso bowing on bass ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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At the Golden Circle Vol.1: Remastered

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date January 07, 2002
I was lucky enough to see the UK debut of this trio at the legendary Fairfield Hall concert in August,1965. The music on this CD recorded at 'The Golden Circle', Stockholm, a few months later, comes close to the brilliance of the trio's performance at that Croydon gig(which is long over-due for re-issue on CD).
Ornette's alto playing is superbly melodic, David Izenzon is imaginative on arco and pizzicato bass while Charles Moffett is a hard-swinging and boisterous drummer.
With good sound quality for a live recording and 3 bonus tracks giving over 75 minutes playing time this marvellous Rudy Van Gelder re-mastered CD is an ideal introduction to the world of Ornette Coleman.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Sound Grammar

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 25, 2006
Rich in music history and texture (I hear New Orleans when I listen to this album); relaxed and masterful; strong, tender and enquiring. A stunning and beautiful album. Without question - an out and out masterpiece.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Free Jazz

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 23, 2002
When this came out on vinyl I managed to get a gatefold import copy from Dobell's Record shop in London. I was stunned. Fabulous group improv and easily as good as Coltrane's Ascension but not comparable as they approach improvisational jazz in a different way. The best solution, if you like these performers is to have both. Well worth making sure that your copy of "Free Jazz" has the alternate shorter take which is just as good. Highly recommended if you like Ornette. Give it a miss if you don't.

CD-Charts Position 6
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At the Golden Circle Vol.2: Remastered

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date January 07, 2002
When this came out on vinyl I managed to get a gatefold import copy from Dobell's Record shop in London. I was stunned. Fabulous group improv and easily as good as Coltrane's Ascension but not comparable as they approach improvisational jazz in a different way. The best solution, if you like these performers is to have both. Well worth making sure that your copy of "Free Jazz" has the alternate shorter take which is just as good. Highly recommended if you like Ornette. Give it a miss if you don't.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Change of the Century

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 23, 2002
I must admit I'm not very much experienced with free jazz, although I attended (and enjoyed) a recent Coleman concert in the town where I live. Previouslly, I have listened to some Pharoah Sanders and to some of Miles Davis' experiments with this style ("Cookin' at plugged nickel" or something like that...)...

Well, I was moderatly impressed and moderately confused. I have also listened to some of the more recent jazz explorations by Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, as well as some recordings by Art Ensemble of Chicago and Wayne Shorter's latest explorations that go beyond most traditional achievements,,,

But, here we have the magnificent source of all that jazz commotion.
First of all, I am impressed by the level of expressiveness ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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The Shape of Jazz to Come

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date July 04, 2005
I must admit I'm not very much experienced with free jazz, although I attended (and enjoyed) a recent Coleman concert in the town where I live. Previouslly, I have listened to some Pharoah Sanders and to some of Miles Davis' experiments with this style ("Cookin' at plugged nickel" or something like that...)...

Well, I was moderatly impressed and moderately confused. I have also listened to some of the more recent jazz explorations by Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, as well as some recordings by Art Ensemble of Chicago and Wayne Shorter's latest explorations that go beyond most traditional achievements,,,

But, here we have the magnificent source of all that jazz commotion.
First of all, I am impressed by the level of expressiveness ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Tomorrow Is the Question!

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date July 01, 1991
I must admit I'm not very much experienced with free jazz, although I attended (and enjoyed) a recent Coleman concert in the town where I live. Previouslly, I have listened to some Pharoah Sanders and to some of Miles Davis' experiments with this style ("Cookin' at plugged nickel" or something like that...)...

Well, I was moderatly impressed and moderately confused. I have also listened to some of the more recent jazz explorations by Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, as well as some recordings by Art Ensemble of Chicago and Wayne Shorter's latest explorations that go beyond most traditional achievements,,,

But, here we have the magnificent source of all that jazz commotion.
First of all, I am impressed by the level of expressiveness ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Beauty Is a Rare Thing: the Complete Atlantic Recordings

by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date February 07, 1994
I must admit I'm not very much experienced with free jazz, although I attended (and enjoyed) a recent Coleman concert in the town where I live. Previouslly, I have listened to some Pharoah Sanders and to some of Miles Davis' experiments with this style ("Cookin' at plugged nickel" or something like that...)...

Well, I was moderatly impressed and moderately confused. I have also listened to some of the more recent jazz explorations by Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, as well as some recordings by Art Ensemble of Chicago and Wayne Shorter's latest explorations that go beyond most traditional achievements,,,

But, here we have the magnificent source of all that jazz commotion.
First of all, I am impressed by the level of expressiveness ... Read More: